Incense is Cancer Causing?

[Adam Of Avalon]

I heard from my mother that incese sticks that are burnt release carcinogens and can cause cancer. I have yet to read the article she recieved this information from, but I thought I'd get some thoughts from other people first.

[Myst]

hehe I think she's full of it :)

[Laiste]

First of all Adam of Avalon Welcome and Merry Meet!

At this point in time in the world we live in just about everything causes cancer...probably even the air we breath...ahhh take a breath of fresh air...hmmm;) :rolleyes:

Here are a couple of sites that answer your question, the answer is not good if thats what your hoping for. But that, unfortunatly, is the way it goes in the Chemical Age...

http://204.174.66.178/cid/25-2.shtml

http://www.usc/student-affairs/dt/v144/n02/03-incense.02c.html

http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/NameGoesHere/cancer.htm

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I guess it all depends on the chemicals, etc in the stuff we breath and intake.

[Semele]

If that were true...at the rate we burn it in our home we would have all died of Cancer by now!

[Laiste]

Hi Semele,

Did you checkout the first link I posted? this is a legitamate site with a lot of information about all types of cancer and the research to back it up. They aren't saying that people who use incense on a regular basis will definitely end up with cancer, but there are increased risks associated with it's use. Incense is technically a pollutant.:eek:

It's sad that so many things we use and enjoy everyday are not really that good for us.:rolleyes:

[Myst]

Technically *everything* is a carcinogen. It's really gotten ridiculous these days.

From the first link

"In studies that have been done (1984-1993) incense may increase risk of cancer and other diseases. Apart from indoor pollution, studies show an increased risk of leukemia in children where parents have frequently burned incense. Also increased risk of brain cancer being passed from pregnant mother inhaling fumes to unborn child. Also nasal illnesses and increased nasal cancer. "

That doesn't say incense is proven to cause cancer, just that it MAY increase rick of cancer and other diseases. Big MAY there. If we were to avoid everything that MAY cause cancer, well... I imagine we'd have stopped breathing decades ago.

Check out what it says about Parsnips

"Carcinogenic only if eaten raw in the sunlight.
Apparently a particular hazard for native Indians.
Parsnips contain Psoralin which is a chemical that reacts with UV light to form a carcinogen. Risk is higher if there is a cut and substance can enter the bloodstream directly. "

Oh well then I really better stop eating my vegetables mom, they might give me cancer if it's sunny outside! :)

[Laiste]

I agree with you are saying Willow. how it all seems so overboard but the research is there and at least there are warnings, as ridiculous as they may sound, hence the parsnips. I just think at this point the medical community is gathering information from ALL available sources and are doing thier job by informing the public. Then we can at least make an educated choice as to what we consume (in every aspect of the word) in our own homes. Because obviously we can't control what goes into our systems from outside sources. It may sound like it but I don't take things like this to the exteme. I was just trying to answer a legitimate question that was posted.

BTW Adam of Avalon seems to have dissapeared!! He's not responding! Did I scare him away?:eek: :rolleyes: